Chain-tightener



CHAIN TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1921.

PatentedSpt. 27,1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

PETER MILLER QITINT, 0F HAYS KANSAS.

CHAIN-TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 192 1.

Application filed May 10, 1921. 7 Serial No. 4G8 ,&59.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER MILLER QUINT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hays in the county of Ellis and State of Kansas, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in a Chain-Tightener, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain tighteners and more particularly toanti-skid chains, used on vehicle wheels.

The object of the invention is to provide a simpl and efficient deviceof this character which can be quickly operated and occupies littlespace when not in use adapting it to be carried in the ordinary toolbox.

Another object is to provide such a tightener composed of a minimum,number of parts and which hasno loose elements capable of being brokenor lost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawingsillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

, In the accompanying drawings Figure. 1 represents a side elevation ofa portion of a wheel equipped with an antiskid chain with the improvedtightener shown applied.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tightener. Fig. 3 is atransversesection taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the chain engagingend of one ofthe clamping aws. J In the embodiment illustrated the tool constitutingthis invention comprises an obtuse angled bar 1 the outer portion 2 ofwhich constitutes a handle for th tool while the: inner portion 3 formsone of the chain engaging jaws equipped at its terminal with a prong 4adapted to be inserted in one of the links to be tightened said prongbeing here shown curved on its outer face for this purose. p The otherjaw of the tool comprises a U-shaped member 5 having arearwardlongitudinally extending connecting bar at the free end of one arm andwhich is pivoted intermediate its ends to the member. 3 of the bar 2preferably at a point near the angle thereof as is shown at 7 in Fig. 1.The

U -shape of the member 5 provides a large amount of leverage withv acomparatively.

short tool so that it will occupy a minimum amount of space in atoolbox.

The other arm of the member 5 is provided at lts free ends with alaterally extending prong 8 which is curved inwardly as is shown in Fig.2, the prong 4 being oppositely curved so that when the two are engagedw th links of the chain to be tightened they Wlll be prevented fromslipping out during the tightening operation.

A pin. 10 projects laterally from the inner arm of the member 5 adjacentits junction with the extension 6 on the same side on which the member 1is pivoted and is designed to operate as a stop for engagement by thearm 3 of said member .1 as is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 when thetool is in operation.

In the use of this tightener the prong 8 on the outer or frontend of themember is engaged with an open link at one end of the chain to betightened while the prong 4 of the member 1 is engaged in the other endof the chain. The ends of the chain are then drawn toward each other bymanipulating the tool through the handle 2 moving the member 1 until theupper edge thereof engages the stop on member 5 and when in thatposition the tool will remain holding the chain ends together until thelinks thereof can be hooked or fastened. The tool is released bypulling'the handle member 2 down out of engagement with the stop 10.

The arm 3 of member 1 is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced bolt apertures 9 to adapt the jaws to be connected at varyingpoints to adjust the tool for either light or heavy chains.

From the above description it will be obvious that this tool while verysimple in construction and cheap to manufacture will be thoroughlyeffective for drawing the ends of the chain to be tightened together andholding them in such position until the ends thereof can be hooked, andhas no pawls or other movable elements such as are likely to be brokenor lost.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawingsand set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that anymodifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made inthe construction Without departing from the principle of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

\Vhat I claim is p k a 1. A chain tightener comprising an'obtuse angledbar and a U-shaped bar, the latter having a substantially right angledlongitudinal extension at the end of one arm, said extension and thefront portion of the obtuse angled bar being pivotally connectedintermediate theirendrs, said arm and the free end of the other arm ofthe U-shaped bar having opposed hooks at their terminals, and a stop onone of said members for engagement With the'other to lock them at apredetermined point.

2. In a chain tightener an obtuse angled lever member having a laterallyextending hook at its front end, a U-shaped member having a rearwardandlongitudinally extending arm pivoted intermediate its ends to said-leverin rear of and spaced from its front end and provided at its free endwith a laterally extending hook, and astop projecting laterally fromsaid U-shaped member adjacent the rearwardly extending arm thereof toengage the lever and limit the closing'movement of said members.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

v PETER MILLER QUINT.

